Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City

Early Childhood Care and Education Articles:

From Dream to Reality: The Growth of Early Learning in Kansas City - pdf
An incredible story has unfolded in Greater Kansas City over the last decade. The community has accomplished what few places in the U.S. can claim: successfully rallying tremendous leadership, resources, funding and community will to improve the start that the youngest children in the community receive.

The Status of Early Learning in Greater Kansas City 2007-2008 - pdf
The Metropolitan Council on Early Learning at Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) produces this status report on early learning in Greater Kansas City biannually. The report is designed to provide an overview of family support and early learning programs in the nine-county metropolitan area, including Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte and Ray counties in Missouri, and Johnson, Leavenworth, Miami and Wyandotte counties in Kansas.

Systemic Approaches to Improving Quality of Care:
QRS Gains Ground Across the Nation - pdf
Research overwhelmingly shows that quality across all child care settings is essential for children's healthy growth and development and leads to positive outcomes for children. Increasing the accessibility and availability of quality child care reflects the Child Care Bureau's mission to ensure parental choice from a range of care settings, from center-based programs to family child care homes.

Beginning in 1998, 14 States have implemented statewide quality rating systems (QRS) and more are in exploratory or design phases. A QRS is a systemic approach to assess, improve, and communicate the level of quality in early care and education programs. QRS can be an effective strategy for aligning components of the early care and education system for increased accountability in improving quality of care.